Treat Yourself Crop {Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Treat Yourself Crop {Blog Hop}!

I trust you found your way here from Colleen's. Doesn't she have great style??

Check out the crop at CardMaker Magazine's message board. You will have until 11:59PM EST August 14, 2012 to get your projects done and uploaded to the challenge thread. Check it out! You will be glad you did...lots of great inspiration plus a nice group of people!

We were suppose to create a project aligning with the theme of {Treat Yourself}. Hmmm...I'm pretty good at taking care of me. I like Sunday afternoon naps with my Husband. I like sugar scrub, pretty fingernail polish, the occasional pedicure. I like to sing hymns to myself around the house. I like lunch with my girlfriends, a great junk store, estate auctions and porch swings. I like old furniture and spray paint. I like old houses and front porches. I try to turn the things I do into treats for me...even the laundry.

And I lie. :) About the laundry. I hate to do laundry but I tell myself that when it's done, I can do something I like to do. Like sit on the porch or swing in my hammock or explore a junk store.

And I digress....

Anyway, I recently got a new hammock and I love hammocks! In my card, below, I substituted a tire swing. :)

Stamp set: Branch Out (retired Stampin Up) Paper: Red (SU), card base (recollections), patterned paper (My Mind's eye)

This post is brought to you by the letter: R.

Your next stop: Ivanka Enjoy!!

The path...in case you have lost your way:

CardMaker Blog

Jane

Susan

Margaret

Golda

Meredith

Jeanette

Colleen Schaan

Laura <----Here!

Ivanka

Marlene

Anya Schrier

Angelina

Ana

Ashley

Lora

Time To Shine! BlogHop

Welcome from Kimberly Crawford's!! I bet you enjoyed your time there didn't you!?

You are on the Time to Shine Blog Hop sponsored by CardMaker Magazine. Remember, there's a great crop with tons of cool challenges {and prizes} going on over at CardMaker Forum. Check us out!!!

In sticking with the theme of times in which people shine, I wanted to show you a graduation card I made for our niece, Anna. She's graduating from high school this coming weekend. Even though it's been several years ago, I remember being super excited to graduate from high school, to experience the adventures set out for me. I knew I wanted to go to college but I had no idea back then, three or four majors later, where I would be today. Whew!! Our Anna wants to go to school to be a dentist. We are super proud of her!!!

Here's my sample:

I got the idea from Chrissy Kelly. You can see her original work right here.

Supplies:
Cricut with George and Basics Cartridge (for all the circles)
K & Company paper called Love Birds
Tim Holtz distress ink in Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen
Decorative Label Punch (from Stampin UP!)

I thought I would show you another angle since it looks like some of my circles are rumpled in the above picture. They don't look like that in person...

From here, I hope you will check out Tammy's blog. She's sure to have something delightful for you! Click {here}.

This post is brought to you by the letter E.

Thank you so, so much for stopping by my blog. I hope that you will come back soon!

The list of hoppers, in case you got lost.
Brooke Smith -CardMaker blog
Jeanette
Ashley
Anya Schrier
Golda
Ivanka
Ana
Michelle Woerner
Judy L
Lisa
Trudy Sjolander
Jane
Angelina
Kimberly Crawford
Laura <<-----You are here
Tammy
Carolyn King
Marlene
Susan
Colleen Schaan
Meredith
Lora

Winter Warm Up (with CardMaker Magazine) Blog Hop

Welcome from Susan's place. Isn't she the sweetest? And talented? Great combo!!!

I"m participating in a blog hop as part of the Winter Warm-up Crop going on at CardMaker Magazine's CardSwaps message board.

**************************
What do you do to warm up your winter?
Always wear pretty clothes?
Make a special point to have your make-up just so?
Wear pretty scarves to keep you warm and stylish?

This winter I have particularly been into pretty scarves! I have warm ones, pretty ones, ones that are warm and pretty! While each of them work hard at something, some keep me warm, some are just cute to ward of the winter blues, some add bling, sophistication, color, etc to my wardrobe (even my blah, black scrubs from my daily work wardrobe feel fancy with a sparkly red scarf).

Here is a picture me in one of my warm scarves along with a host of warm clothes:


It's working hard because the temperature was 31 degrees and I was out for 4 hours working on Janie's fence...not even cold!!!!

Here's a collection of some of my cute scarves (but not really warm):


Look at the bling on the red one! LOVE!

Using my collection of scarves for inspiration, because I hate to be cold but I love to wear cute stuff, I created this card:


Here's another view:


Loving the glitter paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I appreciate that you took the time to read this far. :) Now that you have, go ahead and leave a comment! I don't bite.

This post is brought to you by the letter S.

Hop on and visit my friends!
Marlene is next (click her name). The whole list is below in case you get lost.

CardMaker
Lora
SusieQ
Laura <--- You are here.
Marlene
Jane
Golda
Angelina
Tina
Judy (PrairieWildflower)
Ivanka
Teresa (WingsNThings)
Ana

Don't forget, go see Marlene!! You will be glad you did.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Blog Hop

I'm the 7th stop on the Somewhere Over the Rainbow blog hop.I hope you have a fabulous time hopping along and seeing the gorgeous creations from our hostesses. You should have arrived here from Meredith's blog. Didn't you just love all her green?!? In case you got lost or would like to start at the beginning, check out my Pal Lora (click on her name) at Crafts Are My Thing.

The theme of the blog hop is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Each blog hostess has been assigned a color {I'm blue!}. At the end of the rainbow is a link to your pot of gold! Be sure to click the link so you can join us in the Card Swaps forum for challenges, games, fun, and prizes!! It's sure to be a lot of fun.

{BLUE BABY}
I don't usually think of not liking blue...but I certainly don't use it much in crafting. Come to think of it, I don't think I own a single article of clothing that is blue...but I do love blue jeans. And I think that counts!! :)

I got the idea for this card in a little shop in my home town called Vintage Daze. It's like an antique, wine, cool stuff and card shop. I go there every chance I get! Anyway, I just dug through my paper piles and found some blues and piled them up!

MY CARD:

I really like the texture this card has

A lot of it came about by accident...I forgot my paper cutter at my Mom's...I used Martha's score thing to "cut" the layers. I like it.

The good and the bad...I was planning to border punch the whole bottom of the top piece. But! Due to the textures of the edges, I couldn't get the paper to go back in the punch.

But it turned out pretty cool I think!

There aren't prizes for the hop this round but make sure to check out CardMaker! There are prizes for the challenges over there! However, even though there aren't prizes here, please do leave me some sugar (AKA a comment).

From here, you are off to see Angelina: Click here!

Here's the map in case you have lost your way.
Lora: http://craftsaremything.blogspot.com/
Susan H. http://lilbitofme-susan.blogspot.com/
Golda http://goldapete.wordpress.com/
Jane http://jane-notsuchaplainjane.blogspot.com/
Ana
Meredith http://whatsnextma.blogspot.com/
Laura http://ljjonescircus.blogspot.com/ <------ YOU ARE HERE!
Angelina http://angel-artdesign.blogspot.com/ -
Ashley http://handstampedbyashley.blogspot.com/ -

Sugar Crash Blog Hop Candy Winner

Random.org said commenter #9 is the winner! Congratulations Thea! You have one week from today to contact me with your address! Thea said "Great, simple idea. Thanks!"

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my blog this weekend. I hope to see you back again.

Sugar Crash Blog Hop-- Yeah!!

*Give away closed.* (See post dated 11/8/2010 for winner.)

WELCOME!!!! You are on the CardSwaps Sugar Crash Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Chi Chi Memories and Natalie. If you did not, take a look around here and then head to the first stop... You don't want to miss any of this greatness!! (BTW, there are 17! stops and you won't want to miss a one! There are many prizes to be had and the only way to cash in is by leaving a comment on the posts. Plus, it's just nice to leave a little love don't you think?

Before I get to my project, I would like to invite you over to CardMaker Magazine's Card Swaps! We have a Sugar Crash Crop going on! You must come over and play...plus there are more prizes. (Don't head out quite yet, I have something to show you before you leave...and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win... and because you are nice and you want to leave some love for me :)

Ok, here's my project: Stinking Cute Photo Holders!

If you have spent much time around here, you know that I make several things for my Grandma's Church Bazaar. I made several of these for her Bazaar this year.

This one is my favorite! (I think because it's one of my favorite pictures!) I did spray my Hobby Lobby open stock paper with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist to up its glitter factor but I will admit, it is not very Christmas-y... Don't worry, I am your Christmas girl! Let me show you first how I made these functional little do-dads.

I started with these. (Yes, I purchased them. No Staples did not pay me or ask me to show them off.)

Then, I got out my scrap paper drawer and began cutting pieces 1 1/4" x 2". Some pieces I sprayed with Smooch or Glimmer mist. Next, I creased the paper around the binder clips (mostly to make sure it was going to fit correctly). I used Terrifically Tacky Tape (the red roll) on each side (so three strips of tape total) and stuck down the paper. (Credit: When I couldn't get mine to stand up correctly, I watched this video.)

I selected ribbon to coordinate with the paper. (The pink is from Michaels (below), JJ put it in my stocking last year. The black is fab! satin ribbon from Stampin UP!) I put a little bit of adhesive on the ribbon right where it goes around the silver parts of the binder clips... otherwise, the ribbon rides up and there's no where for the picture to go.

Here's my Christmas sample:

That's paper from the open stock at Hobby Lobby. Those snazzy chicks in the photo are my sister and I in San Fransisco a couple of years ago.

House of Jones Holiday Traditions

Our first Christmas as husband and wife, I decided we needed to start some Christmas traditions! (Now, every since I have had my own Christmas tree (i.e., not living with my parents) I have left the tree lights on all night long on Christmas Eve and slept in the living room... JJ does this with me too. And someday, I will let our children do the same I am sure.) So, that first year, which was just last year in case you are counting, I bought us both fun/cute Christmas PJs to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. My thoughts were that our Christmas morning pictures would be better since we wouldn't be in old sweats but... I don't even think we took any last year. Anyway, that's our thing! And I love it! And JJ plays along with my game!

Now! Leave me some love for a random chance to win my candy.... can't really show it to you... but trust me! I am the last blog on the hop. Head on over to CardMaker and check out the challenges. Have a ball with all the challenges and thanks for stopping by!

In case you are lost... start with Lora and hop on through.

Lora

Carolyn King (Guest Designer)

Meredith

Ashley

Christy Croll (Tiddly Inks - Guest Designer)

Susie

Diana

Jane

Traci (Guest Cardmaker)

Angelina

Tami Mayberry (Guest Designer)

Irina

Ana

Margaret

Natalie (Chi Chi Memories - Guest Designer)

Laura <--- You are here!

Card Maker Message board is your last stop from here - http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/cardswap/index.php/board,57.0.html

Iris Folding Answers

First of all, thanks for stopping by on World Card Making Day. In case you missed my iris folding card, you can see that whole post here. I must say, I was really impressed with how my card turned out!!

I received so many lovely comments {thank you} and a few questions. I'd like to take this time to answer the questions.

1. Percy the Black Cat commented that she thought it "would be interesting with fabric". I had not thought of that before the Cat's comment but I immediately thought of Stampin Up's new Christmas fabric! Now that would be fancy!!!

2. Several comments including one from Gail Varland mused that making the card must have taken a long time. Honestly, it took about an hour. This was my FIRST try, I had to choose papers, then choose again :) and then re-cut them because I had been too chincy the first time and my strips weren't long enough.

3. Several people said they love the technique and the card, then followed with "but I can't do that". To which I say, "Yes you can!". Seriously, with a pattern, the directions I wrote and the Youtube video (check the original post)... it is super easy...for real!!

4. Lora, you can come over to my Cavern anytime!! :)

5. There was one more comment with several questions but... I accidently deleted it and I can't seem to locate it now. Sorry!

(If you left a question and I missed or deleted it or you have another, please leave me a comment or shoot me an email. If I know the answer, I would love to help you out. Even if I don't know the answer, I will post your question and see if my friend Terrie stops by...she's the iris folding Queen!!)

CardSwaps World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop!

Iris Folding!!! It's new to me but how stinking cute is this!?! (OK, don't skip to the pictures quite yet!!)

Ok, the dirt: You are on the CardSwaps World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop! Welcome!! You should have arrived here from Jeanette's. Doesn't she have cute stuff!? If you got here differently, make sure you start at the beginning and work your way around. You won't be disappointed, I promise!!

Challenge: CASE challenge. I found a thread on Iris folding on CardMaker message board and decided to try my hand! The thread references recipes found on Circle of Crafters for inspiration. I chose this cutie. There's also an article in CM News Letter!

Technique: I watched this video posted by nightcats (very well done) to get my feet wet. Did I mention that I had never done Iris Folding??

I traced the pattern onto card stock (held it up to the patio door).

Next, cut out the inside only. You will want to preserve the outside or the negative image. Then, tape your negative image over the recipe or map and start laying your papers down, following the pattern.

Oh! About the papers... Choose your papers (4 different ones for this pattern), cut them into 3/4" strips. The video said 5/8 but I found these to be just a little too small given the size of my pattern. Then start taping them down:

I just used scotch tape. Keep going, and going, and going. Once you have covered all the numbers, flip it over and here's what you will have from the pretty side:

I added a Rich Razzleberry center and a sparkly gold topper. Love it!!

Be sure to hop around!! Leave a comment on every blog by midnight CST, October 3, 2010, to be entered in to a drawing for prizes (Waa--hoo!!). The full list of prizes are on Lora's blog.

My story: I started papercrafting...dabbling in scrapbooking over 10 years ago. I was in college, had no money so I just used whatever I could come up with.... And I loved it!! I had made a few cards here and there but just wasn't too happy with the way they turned out. Then!! About a year and a half ago, my friend Lora (who was really just my neighbor back then) invited me to a Stampin UP party. My cards and my wallet haven't been the same since!! But I love it! I have made some new great new friends and met tons of people through playing with paper. Probably the coolest thing that has came about primarily because of paper was an extremely successful fundraiser to benefit my Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society. Last winter I hosted a Cancer Crop and raised over $1200 for my Relay team. WOW!!

Your next stop on the hop is Faith Skrdla at Designed 2 Delight. Hop on over and See her!! But before you go, leave me some love so you can win!!

Here's the whole list:

Lora

Jeanette

Laura <--- You are here!!

Faith Skrdla (Designed 2 Delight)

Redonna

SusieQ - http://lilbitofme-susan.blogspot.com/

Jane - http://jane-notsuchaplainjane.blogspot.com/

Lori (representing Stretch N Bubbles) -http://lorispurplegiraffes.blogspot.com/

Irina - http://sami-creativityworld.blogspot.com

Meredith - http://whatsnextma.blogspot.com/

Ana - http://anaggarciam.blogspot.com/

Dustin Pike - http://dustinpike.blogspot.com/

Diana - http://b4ustamp.blogspot.com

Angelina - http://angel-artdesign.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://handstampedbyashley.blogspot.com/